San Jose Sharks Lose Game Three in Denver to the Avalanche

The San Jose Sharks adjourn to postseason play and for the past number of seasons promptly dig a hole that they cannot climb out. Sunday evening's match with the Colorado Avalanche played out a sad scenario that Sharks fans have witnessed too often of late. The final score was Colorado winning 1-0 in O.T.

Despite dominating the regulation three stanzas and holding the 'Lanche to three shots in each of the second and third periods, the Sharks still found themselves embroiled in a scoreless affair as the overtime period began.

San Jose outshot Colorado 50-16 prior to overtime and 42-7 during the dominance that was periods two and three.

As the extra period got underway, the Avalanche dumped the puck into the Sharks' zone and onto the stick of veteran San Jose defenseman, Dan Boyle. Boyle, sitting in the left corner, and with ample time, promptly backhanded an errant pass that surprised Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov, sneaking past the him on the short side for a stunning Avalanche win at the .51 second mark of overtime.

The bizarre finish forges a 2-1 series lead for Colorado with game four scheduled in Denver tonight, Tuesday.

Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson has been brilliant in the past two games, stopping more than 100 shots. Sunday night's effort earned him a piece of of history that reads the only goalie to face 50 or more shots in a playoff game that stood at 0-0 when the third period ended.

The Sharks are writing their own obituary again this season, one that documents an early departure in the playoffs wrought by an opposing squad inferior talentwise but large of heart and will.

Despite making a few nice saves early on, Nabokov remains a bit of a question mark in big games. Witness his stats in game two, a hard-fought 6-5 O.T. thriller in a win at San Jose's "Shark Tank." Nabokov faced but 18 shots allowing five goals.

Evgeni is the first that must answer for these post-season disappointments. Boyle's errant pass, one re-directed slightly by a Avalanche stick, surprised him. He appeared to have the opportunity to handle the puck with ease.

But, as with so many of the Sharks, the past numerous seasons have proven that a team is at a huge disadvantage stickhandling when one hand is firmly in place around one's own neck.